Implications of McGovern playing well, this year and next

Jarntt said:

I don't get why people still think Williams would be better as a RT than an OG. I get where he played in College and what a lot of the pre-draft talk was and the constant talk of moving him since he has been here, but has anyone seen the skill-set from him to move to RT in the NFL? I don't think he has the feet for it.

Now on your larger idea of moving Collins to Guard if we drafted Sewell I totally agree...well...at least until Smith goes down with an injury...

In your scenario above, I think Knight is a better RT than Williams would be and definitely a better LT if needed. Leave Williams as interior depth and put Knight behind the big two. Once Smith goes down you start Sewell and Collins at Tackle with Knight as the swing tackle and let everyone else fight it out for the other spots.

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Kaiser said:

I watched the game again to focus mostly on McGovern. The thing with this game was he was playing between two veterans with a simple assignment to beat the guy in front of him - which he mostly did on run downs. When he was playing earlier between Biadasz and Steele he was lost and tentative, I wouldn't get too far out front on McGovern's development. He still has a long ways to go on technique and handling the normal assignments of an OG.

I like McGovern and in the offseason thought he would be the starting Center if he got preseason reps at the position - but all that got wiped out. He certainly has the upside to be a solid starter but in the Vikings game he was protected and given a simple assignment, IMO we can't make the call on him until late this year or early next year.

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buybuydandavis said:

Despite a lack of snaps this year and last, McGovern is playing well. Currently in our healthy top 3, per PFF. That passes my eyeball test too. Looney and Knight round out my top 5.

Can't keep him on the field unless one of our top 2, Martin or Williams, plays T. Will Martin play T the rest of the year? And continue when Knight gets back?

Will Biadasz take over for Looney when he's back from IR? If Looney continues to play at his current level, and Jerry is determined to get that playoff berth to be crushed in round 1, I don't see Looney giving up the spot, though I hate to see Biadasz miss the chance for developmental snaps.

Then next year, with Collins and Tyron back at T, Martin goes back to G.
Then what?
McGovern fights Biadasz for C, and Williams for G.
At worst, he's first off the bench interior lineman. Maybe, finally, they cross train Williams for T?

Oline is looking pretty strong for next year, and McGovern is the focus of the decisions to be made.

Oline PFF Grades
90.8 Martin
71.0 Williams
67.8 Tyron - Out
67.8 McGovern
62.8 Looney
60.2 Knight
56.9 Erving
53.3 Biadasz
46.9 Steele

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Jarntt said:

I don't get why people still think Williams would be better as a RT than an OG. I get where he played in College and what a lot of the pre-draft talk was and the constant talk of moving him since he has been here, but has anyone seen the skill-set from him to move to RT in the NFL? I don't think he has the feet for it.

Now on your larger idea of moving Collins to Guard if we drafted Sewell I totally agree...well...at least until Smith goes down with an injury...

In your scenario above, I think Knight is a better RT than Williams would be and definitely a better LT if needed. Leave Williams as interior depth and put Knight behind the big two. Once Smith goes down you start Sewell and Collins at Tackle with Knight as the swing tackle and let everyone else fight it out for the other spots.

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xwalker said:

The biggest issue for the OL next year is backup Left Tackle. Cam Erving looks good right now but he has had an up & down career.

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jnday said:

Williams body type fits the tackle position much better than OG except for his arm length. He has quick feet and a long build which is good for a OT. He doesn’t have a frame to carry much power, which has been his problem playing OG.

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